The nation’s largest grocery store operator is being sued for alleged false advertising the calorie count on one of its products.
The district attorneys from Venture and Santa Barbara counties filed a civil suit against Kroger, accusing them of misleading shoppers about the calorie county of its bread products, Carbmaster Wheat and White breads.
Prosecutors alleged that Kroger, which operates in California as Ralphs, Food 4 Less, and Foods Co., violated the state’s false advertising and unfair competition laws from late 2018 until June 2022 at least.
According to the suit, the company claimed the Carbmaster breads contained 30 calories per slice when they actually contain at least 50 calories.
Photos released by prosecutors showed a Carbmaster Classic White Bread package with different calorie labels on opposite sides.
In a lawsuit against Kroger, prosecutors alleged that the company, which operates in California as Ralphs, Food 4 Less, and Foods Co., violated the state’s false advertising and unfair competition laws from late 2018 until June 2022 at least.
According to the suit, the company claimed the Carbmaster breads contained 30 calories per slice when they actually contain at least 50 calories
‘Consumers rely on nutritional information to make important decisions about their personal health and well-being. For some consumers, these decisions are based upon medical necessity,’ said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko in the complaint.
‘False advertising of calories can mislead, or even endanger consumers, and it provides an unfair advantage over competitors who are advertising in compliance with FDA guidelines.
In addition, Kroger is accused of falsely advertising the lower calorie count on some of its websites, according to the complaint.
Kroger, with nearly 2,800 stores across 35 states, has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
